Remaking Wake County Voting

The time has passed for how Wake County voters elect officials. This convoluted system needs revision more than swapping the inner and outer signs on the 440 beltline.

There is no rhyme nor reason as to why all 12 towns and cities elect their officials on a different schedule. Raleigh's race can be decided in October. November is a standby in case a runoff is need. Most others don't begin until November. The craziest is the possible runoff in the Wake County school board race, where only a handful of precincts will be open, for more than 12 hours, to accommodate voters.

Some voters (finally catching on to the importance of always voting) were surprised that they didn’t have a voice in choosing any candidate for the school board. Frankly, they didn’t have a voice in the ‘selection’ of two current members either. Maybe we need a rule that whenever one departs the seat will be declared 'open' until the next election.

Next year's election will be just as silly. Except that the races will be partisan.

The Wake County Sheriff, Register of Deeds and Clerk of Court will be on the ballot, as will 4 county commissioner seats. It’s a race that I wish was going on sooner than later, since Democrats are more divided now than ever.

Also on the ballot will be all seats in the North Carolina General Assembly and Congressional Representatives. If either party or group had trouble finding suitable candidates this year, wait until next year.

Both major political parties will retreat to their respective corner and hold a primary in the Spring, followed by a General election in November. What's so remarkable is that persons who party leadership don't want on the ballot can pay a filing fee and be on the ballot anyhow. Just as likely, the leadership will (behind the scenes of course) put their own candidate up to challenge these persons.

Deep pockets may once again reign, depending on the seat. The newspapers will prepare for endorsing the person who they feel will…well who knows WHAT they base their endorsements on?

Organizations with political actions committees also will endorse their favored candidate based on…well, don’t know what they're looking for either.

So, everyone has several months to decide on the role they’ll play. The teacher’s union (North Carolina Association of Educators), bandaged and bruised will try to make a return to the stage. The League of Women Voters, nonpartisan on paper, may too use this time to revamp their purpose.

Anyone thinking of running for Clerk of Court must be prepared to go up against the current nonchalant clerk and her high rolling Daddy, Franklin Freeman. Because, well, she has to run again because there’s nothing else for her to do.

More importantly, citizens should begin rallying to change this archaic system of the local Boards of Elections. Their rules are primarily set by the State of North Carolina. It's time to challenge the 50% rule (how one of 3 or more candidates must garner 50% to waive a runoff) in favor a simple majority.

It's fiscally irresponsible to spend huge sums of money when less than 3,000 people in some municipalities will be voting and (in some districts) with only one race is on a ballot.

Surely our forefathers wouldn't mind.